Xwilliam



Jan. 8 1924.

W. W. HAWKINS IGNITION EQUIPMENT Filed Feb. 20. 1922 wis.

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Patented Jan. 8, 1924. A

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. HAWKINS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WEBSTER ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

IGNITION EQUIPMENT.

Application filed February 20,1922. Serial No. 537,981.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. HAW- KINS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ignition Equipments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, forming a part of this specificat-ion.

My invention relates to an ignition equipment comprising a low tension oscillating magneto and spark electrodes which are operated in timed relation to the magneto.

Among its objects, my invention contemplates the provision of:

First: An ignition equipment comprising novel means for maintaining the generating circuit of the magneto open during the cocking movement of the rotor thereof;

Second: An ignition equipment comprising improved means for maintaining the spark electrodes in tight engagement during the recoil movement of the rotor; and

Third: An oscillating magneto ignition equipment comprising novel means for separating the electrodes very quickly at the proper instant in the cycle of magneto operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the apparatus of my present invention will appear as the following detailed description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the magneto ignition equipment embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the bracket, the magneto generating springs and certain connected parts being illustrated in dotted lines. That part of the magneto rotor shaft with. which my invention is particularly concerned is illustrated in section in this figure, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.;

Figure 3 is an end View of the igniter plug, this view illustrating the movable electrode in its normal or open position and Fi ure 4 is a similar view illustrating the move le electrode in its closed position.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views,

The ignition equipment of my invention preferably includes an integral plug and bracket structure comprising the igniter plug 10, magneto shelf 11 and the plate 12, which is provided with apertures 13-13 for the reception of bolts wherewith the plug and bracket structure is secured-to an engine cylinder with the igniter plug extending into a suitable opening in the cylinder in the usual manner.

The igniter plug is provided with the stationary or insulated electrode 1 1 and with the grounded or rocking electrode 15. The electrodes are provided at their inner ends with the usual opposed igniter points 14 and 15*, as illustrated most clearly in F igures 3 and 4. At 16 is illustrated a coil spring which normally holds the annular beveled shoulder of the grounded electrode in gas tight contact wits its co-operating correspondingly shaped seat in the inner end of the igniter plug.

At 17 is illustrated a low tension magneto of any approved design, the magneto frame being securely bolted to the shelfl l, as illustrated. The magneto rotor shaft is illustrated at 18. That end of the rotor shaft which. lies away from bracket portion 14: is provided with a yoke 19, and associated with this yoke are the customary generating springs 2020, one end of each of these springs being attached to the yoke, the other end of each spring being attached to one of the stationary spring posts 21-21. In the present embodiment of my invention, spring posts 2121 are carried by a plate 22 which is fixed with respect to the magneto field structure.

It will be understood that one end of the magneto generating winding is grounded to the magneto frame and thence to the bracket and that the other side of the generating Winding is connected by insulated lead 23 to a suitable terminal clip 24 which is in electrical contact with the insulated electrode 14.

In theoperation of the magneto, the rotor shaft is periodically cocked against the tension of generating springs 2020 and released, the rotor being then quicklyreturned to. its normal position by springs 20-20. In Figures 1 and 2, the rotor shaft is illustrated as it appears prior to the commencement of its recoil movement. The en.-

gine driven actuator which cooks the rotor shaft is indicated by dotted lines at and the magneto aush finger with which the actuator or push. rod co-operates isv indicated at 26. This push finger is, of course, fixed ,v tllmsrect to the m gn t ro h f and persons familiar :with the art to which my invention relates.

I. Shall now proceed to describe those parts ot-the apparatus which ar'e'the salient-teat-ures of "present invention.

Fixed toja nd extending downwardly from the otiterend o'fthe movable electrode 15 is anar-m Qti. At Wis illustrated a curved leaf spring which has onelegthereott fixed to a bracket stud 28. The springQ i extends npw'ardly over theadjacentend of the movable electrode 'andthen downwardly, the

right-hand -leg of i the spring "(Figu e 2) teinghtmhed to the movable electrode arm 26 'by a screw 29. The last mentioned leg of spring -27 extends somewhat below arm 26 for a purpose which will presently be explained.

The legs ot'spring 27 tend to move apart;

.hence said spring at all times tends to hold the arm '26 in thep'o'sition illustrated in Figure 2. When arm 26i's in the position illustrated "in Figure. 2, the igniter points are separated, as indicated by dotted lines in said a re; At 30 have illu'strate'da stop pinwhich is carried by bracketportion f12-and which prevents springQ'Y from moving the arm 26 in a counter-cloclnvise d'irection beyond the position illustrated in e i 2- v I now call attention the collar 31 which is keyed uponthat end "of the rotor shaft which lies text adjacentithe bracket portion 12, Collar31 isp'rovided with a bifurcated portion '32 which movable finger 38 is pivoted by means'ofa pin 3f}. A leaf spring 85, carried by collar 31, normally retains one end ot' finger .83 in engagement with collar portion 3 2 The other end of finger i Pr iv d w th 1 inel n d u fer' J h purp e o w ich il P se ly arrea lio l y he m ne y e l herizontally. At "this'tim'e the pivoted finger of U shaped spring 27. The igniter points arenorm ally held separated underthe ine et s;"a me hattt ie ngine lriren r72 ease herrsh s r 6 an e 4 0m ha "described insures that t he ignitcr mints be held firmly in contact during the room! and arrangement o t parts herein movement. This is very desirable, because, With the contacts open during the cocking movement, current wave is built up in the generating winding of the magneto during the cocking movement thereof. Consequently, the current wave built up in the generating winding during the succeeding or recoil movement of the rotor is permitted to build up from datum instead of from a point below datum, as would be he case if the igniter contacts were closed on:- ing the cocking movement of the rotor. When, during the cooking movement ot the rotor, the finger 23 engages the tree end of spring27, the light spring-'35 yields to permit the inclined surface 36 or the to I slip past the free end of spring 27, the

i of the spring to the left (lFi ure Arm E26 isconsequently turned cloclnvise (Figure 2) andthe' electrode points are clo ad and 1 r, forcibly closed until thepeak ot the current:

wave generated by the magneto is attained.

At the instant that the current wave generated by the magneto attains its peak, or at proximate peak, the finger slips under the {free end ot'spring 2'7. Spring?! thereupon very suddenly opens the igniter points to permit the passing of an ignition spark there between.

It will be understood that the construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and will movement of the rotor and also insures that "the igniter points win be very quickly sepa rated at the proper instant in the cycle ot magneto operation.

Having thus illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself to the precise c mstruction 7 shown described, but wish to avail myself of other embodiments of the invention defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters *Patent ot the Uniteifl S is:

1. An ignition equipment comprising an igniter plug, stationary and rot trodes carried by said plug, contacts carried by said electrodes, an arm carried by the outer end of the rocking electrode, a leaf *spriiigfhaving one end fixed with respect. to theign'iteriplug and being attached near :its other"'end tofsaid arm, said spring norinalljy holding the contacts separated, and nieans -adaptedyto engage said leaf spring to close the contacts against the action of said leaf spring and then to disengage said spring to permit same to open the contacts.

2. An ignition equipment comprising an oscillating magneto, stationary and rocking electrodes, cont-acts carried by said electrodes, spring means normally holdin said contacts separated, and means carried y the magneto rotor adapted forcibly to move the rocking electrodes and to close the contacts against the action of said spring means during the recoil movement of the magneto rotor and to permit' said spring means to separate the contacts near the end of the recoil. movement of the rotor.

3. An ignition equipment comprising an oscillating magneto, spark electrodes, spring means normally holding said electrodes separated, and means carried by the magneto rotor adapted to close the contacts against the action of said spring means during the major portion of the recoil movement of the rotor and to permit said elec trodes to separate under the action of said spring means near the end of the recoil .movement of the rotor.

4. An ignition magneto equipment comprising an oscillating magneto, stationary and movable spark electrodes, spring means at all times tending to hold the movable electrode out of engagement with the stationary electrode, and means carried by the magneto rotor adapted to move the movable electrode against the action of said spring means, and maintain the electrodes closed during the major portion of the recoil movement of the rotor, said spring means being adapted to separate the electrodes near the end of the recoil movement of the rotor.

5. An ignition equipment comprising an oscillating magneto, stationary and movable spark electrodes, spring means adapted to maintain the electrodes separated during the entire cocking movement of the magneto rotor. and means carried by the magneto rotor adapted to close the electrodes during the major portion of the recoil movement of the rotor, said spring means adapted to separate the electrodes near the end of the recoil movement of the rotor.

('3. An ignition equipment comprising an oscillating magneto, stationary and movable spark electrodes, a leaf spring which normally holds the electrodes separated, and means carried by the magneto rotor for closing the electrodes during the major por tion of the recoil movement of the magneto rotor and for permitting said sprin to separate the electrodes near the end of the recoil movement of the rotor, said rotor carried means comprising a spring-pressed finger adapted to engage, move, and disengage said leaf spring during the recoil movement of the rotor, said finger adapted to slip past said leaf spring without substantially flexing the same during the cocking movement of the rotor.

7. An ignition equipment comprising an oscillating magneto, stationary and movable electrodes therefor, a spring associated with the movable electrodes and adapted to hold the electrodes separated during the cocking movement of the magneto rotor, means associated with the magneto adapted to hold the electrodes closed against the action of said spring during the major portion of the recoil movement of the rotor, said spring being adapted to separate the electrodes near the end of the recoil movement of the rotor.

8. In combination, stationary and movable spark electrodes, an oscillating magneto for supplying current thereto, a spring connected with the movable electrode and normally holding the same out of engagement with the stationary electrode, said spring adapted to hold the electrodes separated during the major portion of the cocking movement of the magneto rotor, means carried by the magneto rotor adapted to close the electrodes against the action of said spring during the recoil movement of the rotor, said spring being adapted to separate the electodes near the end of the recoil movement of the rotor.

9. In combination with stationary and movable spark electrodes and an oscillating magneto for supplying current thereto, a spring at all times tending to hold the electrodes separated and trip mechanism interposed between the movable electrodes and the magneto rotor whereby the electrodes remain open during the cooking movement of the rotor, are held closed during the major portion of the recoil movement of the rotor, and are separated by said spring near the end of the recoil movement of'the rotor, seriatim.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of January, 1922.

WILLIAM W. HAWKINS.

Witnesses:

EDNA V. GUSTAFSON, EMILE J. BOURGEOIS. 

